The war in Ukraine is heartbreaking and has been at or near the top of the news for the last couple of weeks. There’s no way kids have missed the constant coverage, but they probably don’t understand what’s going on.

This, added to the stress of the pandemic, can leave them confused and anxious. 

So what’s the best way to reassure them about any fears they may have?

Check your own feelings

Kids are like sponges, and they’ll absorb whatever they see us feeling.

“Our children have been in such a state of anxiety for such a long time now that it’s really important that we try and manage our own feelings and not get carried away with the ‘what ifs,’ ” Ryan Lowe, a child psychotherapist and spokesperson for the Association of Child Psychotherapists (ACP) told Britain’s Independent.

“Our kids are currently at their weakest in terms of mental health than they have ever been,” she said. “They need us to be strong and calm and grounded and not get too panicky or freaked out because if we are, we’re going to pass that anxiety on to them.”

Feel them out

Psychologists stress that even if you keep them away from the news, with something this big there’s no way kids can be totally shielded, and they’re probably getting misinformation, too.

Do check in with your child, and be open to questions.

“For children under the age of seven, it might just be acknowledging that something is happening . . . and ask, ‘Have you heard anything?’ Take the child’s lead,” Janine Domingues, a clinical psychologist at the nonprofit Child Mind Institute in New York, told the Associated Press.

If they’re getting frightening news from Tik Tok, for example, help them sort through the facts.

Reassure them

While we know that the war is taking place in Europe, younger kids can’t necessarily make the distinction between “over there” and “just around the corner.”

Reassure them that they’re safe in this country; get out a map to help explain what’s going on. And offer constructive outlets for their feelings, such as ways to help raise money for the refugees.

Finally, help them tune out from the tension by keeping the news off as much as possible and encouraging play with their friends, or just escaping into nature with healthy walks and games outdoors.